Thessaloniki to Host 2023 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

The 2023 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (PSTF) will be held in Thessaloniki next Spring, the organisers of Greece’s premier cruising and yachting conference, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., announced on Friday.

It will be the first time the biennial event will move away from Athens since its inception 11 years ago.

The 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will take place at Thessaloniki’s Makedonia Palace Hotel during April 25-26.

Photo source: Makedonia Palace Hotel

According to the organizer, the decision to relocate the 7th edition of PSTF to Thessaloniki was made as Greece’s second biggest port (after Piraeus) is rapidly evolving into a North Aegean seasonal hub with ambitions to become an important regional homeport for an extended season for all cruise brands that decide to homeport in Greece.

“The decision is in line with the realisation that all stakeholders in the region must work closely with the cruise lines to create more itinerary options that will help dilute call density, over-tourism and high season crowding in marquee ports,” Posidonia Exhibitions S.A. Managing Director Theodore Vokos said.

Moreover, Volos said that one of the goals of the forum will be to highlight new destinations, both in Greece and the region, as the cruise industry needs more options going forward.

Thessaloniki sees 60 cruise ship arrivals in 2022

Cruise ship at “Macedonia” cruise passenger terminal, Thessaloniki.

According to official statistics by the Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME), the port of Thessaloniki is expected to close the year 2022 with a total of 60 cruise ship arrivals compared to just six calls in 2019, a tenfold increase.

Speaking during an event of the Thessaloniki Port Authority (ThPA S.A.) on Friday, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said that the tenfold increase of cruise ship arrivals to the city this year follows upgrades made at the port.

According to the minister, half of the cruise ship arrivals are attributed to homeporting, which adds even more value to the Greek destination.

“This reflects an upgrade of the city’s tourism product and creates a boost to the local economy,” he said, adding that Thessaloniki deserves and should enjoy a high-ranking position in sea tourism.

PSTF 2023 will attract influential decision makers

The 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (PSTF) will attract some of the most influential decision makers of the international cruising and sea tourism sector.

“During their stay here, they will have a first-hand experience of Thessaloniki’s exciting, highly vibrant and constantly evolving tourism product, which comprises of unfettered air, rail and road accessibility from all parts of Greece and Europe, the rapidly improving state-of-the-art transportation infrastructure, and the strategic location of a city known as a crossroads of culture and culinary excellence steeped in Byzantine history,” Thessaloniki Port Authority (ThPA) Chairman Athanasios Liagkos said during the event.

The 2023 PSTF is sponsored by ThPA S.A., as a Diamond Sponsor, and organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy and the Ministry of Tourism and is supported by the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports and the Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members.